April 17, 2014

I've been working on a new book tentatively called NO FEAR IN LOVE. It's a book that takes a look at the way we allow Fear to drive almost every decision we make in developing relationships, faith, traditions, and keeps us from working from a place of confidence.

If I'm honest with myself, there are certain places I find fear emerge in my heart, Right? I mean I can act all tough like I have life together, but if I'm HONEST with myself and those around me, FEAR is a real part of human nature. We're scared of all kinds of stuff.

Fear can take so many different forms.

We can be fearful of spiders and snakes, so whenever they cross our paths we just pick up a shovel and remove the fear from our lives.We can be fearful of health, so we take drastic steps to eat right and exercise to make sure we control the future of our bodies.We can be fearful of economics, so we work hard, save like crazy, invest in the 'sure' bet, and set ourselves up so we never have to worry.We can be fearful of our neighbors across the street who drive a shady car, or dress in a strange way, or even keep the lights on all night which causes us to wonder "What's really going on in there?"

My personal favorite study is the FEAR OF OTHERS.

In a 24 hour news cycle, we're exposed to the bias of FEAR all the time. If you've been watching CNN for the last month, you're probably wondering if you should fly on a foreign airliner. Fear of FlyingIf you've watched FOX, the fear of government is probably a part of your daily conversation. Fear of someone taking away your freedom. If you're watching MSNBC, you're probably fearful of FOX NEWS, right? Fear of Fear.

Fear of THE OTHER is probably the most powerful. We tend to create tribes of people we know, we can count on their reactions, they hold the same values as we do, and the narrative begins to emerge US vs. THEM. It's our knowing of life against their knowing of life. It's our traditions that take precident over their traditions. It's our way of thinking that makes sense while they are the ones who are off base.

In 2001, I have to admit, I was fearful of THE OTHER; and THE OTHER had a clear label, ISLAM.

I watch each September 11, just like you do, and we all FEAR another attack from some extremist fanatic who is out to 'control the world,' or 'kill as many people as possible,' or simply threaten my own way of existence.

The first conflict of this ideology came when I was invited to be a part of The Harvard Veritas Forum in 2003. I was exposed to an environment where a Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew were asked to present their world views and what fueled the flame of hatred around the world.

And you know what I found?

People are People.

The same FEAR of THE OTHER in my heart was fueling the same flame in everyone at the conference. I found out Muslims have as much fear of Christians as Jews have of Christians. I found Jews had the same fear of Muslims that Christians had of other Jews, and I found that Christians were afraid of everyone. (O.K. not everyone, but almost...)

It's crazy to think about how many global conflicts are being fought primarily because we fear so much about people, and we really don't know anything about THE OTHER.

Most of us don't take the opportunity to leave our tribes of comfort to venture out and ask, "So why are all Muslims out to get us?"Or, "What do Jews believe about God and His interaction in the world today?"And maybe it would serve all parties involved to ask Christians, "What do you believe about God?"

Of course all those questions are variations of other questions, and many of you who are reading probably don't even ask those questions. But for the questions you do have about THE OTHER, maybe your fear can be put to rest if WE ALL take the time to sit down and ask about THE OTHER.

Sure, we all have differences. We believe God looks different, acts different, and historically behaves different thatn all the other views. We fundamently funciton from different worldviews. But we do have things in Common too.

We all want to raise our families well.We all want to be successfull.We all want to take care of our loved ones.We all want to worship in truth.

Crazy thing is:

I've worked with Christians from all sides of denominational variables, and I've found often Christians FEAR other Christian worshippers. I've worked with Muslims from all kinds of worship styles and country traditions, and I've found often, Muslims FEAR other Muslims. I've even worked with my Jewish Friends, and found a cornucopia of belief systems that vary depending on what Rabbi a particular Synagogue emphasizes.

So even within the narrative of US vs. Them, we don't even really know who US is. So how can we even begin to try and come up with an over arching thematic view of THEM?

Christians Fearing Muslims.Muslims Fearing Jews.Jews Fearing Christians. And all in the name of God.

In the Christian Tradition we read, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)

God is not a God of Fear. If you say you worship God, and you live in a spirit of constant fear of others, you're not dwelling in the spirit closest to the Biblical definition. Sure, God calls us to Fear Him, but that fear is one of respect, not cowering toward self defense.God is a God who Loves the people on earth enough to come and dwell WITH us. (John 3:16) God is a God who looks down on the earth and longs to engage with Creation. Unfortunately, when we let our own bias or our own opinion shadow the reality of what is, fueled by fear, we reach a state of hatred for another. And hatred leads us to conflict.

I'm excited to write this new book about FEAR, and as I examine this complicated emotion, I'd love yoyur input. Who knows? You might wind up being in a book someday.

April 15, 2014

We recognize, in a world where young men are trying to figure out who they are and how to be a man in 2014, there needs to be a place in the world where Men can be Men.

So many of our families call and ask:

1. Is it ok that my son is addicted to Video Games?

Modern Warfare, Zombies, and Battle Games are a Billion Dollar Business. Students are staying up late, and foregoing those old imaginary activities they can have by just going outside. Adventure is found on a television, not in real life. And there's something to be said for this problematic trend.

At the same token, Video Games are the only place young men have control over their destiny. They have to sit in class, dress up for church, and continue to conform to this idea that everyone else can control them. So as much as video games seem to be problems, it's a natural response for a man to have a controller in his hand to control his own destiny.

At KIVU, we want to re-introduce what it means to be a MAN in today's culture, and show men how they can think beyond the video gaming culture to shape their own destiny.

2. Is there any place where we can help our son understand how to develop character?

Integrity in school and the workplace are fading trends. In the days of old, men had older men who worked with them on developing necessary components of character. They taught them how to treat a lady, how to work and finish a job, and how to create adventures using the tools God gave them.

Our core curriculum is simple as we cry from the mountaintop, "THANK YOU LORD FOR MAKING ME A MAN." We're going to help give young men apprentice relationships with older men who are being successful in their own sphere of influence. In other words, they will have heroes to look up to when they come raft, bike, hike, and climb the big mountains here in Colorado.

3. Is it Safe?

This is exactly the question no man wants to hear, but every mother needs assurance. At KIVU we want to train men to experience the adventure of life, the fullness of character, and the importance of being humble to serve God. Our highly trained staff take into account the safety of all the young men at our facility, and it is our goal to return young men home better than when they came.

If you have a son, a nephew, or even a group of men who want to come experience MAN CAMP II, please visit, www.campkivu.com, hit the registration button, and come join us for a week where Men can be Men.

April 04, 2014

The Internet has been spotty at best, so I'll try to recount the last few days. Most of you know, 18 KIVU followers decided to go on a Journey to the Holy Land. The Purpose: To walk the footsteps of Jesus, and learn about what's going on over in Israel. Why is Israel always on the news? Why does there seem to be so much instability? Can any of this be like it was when Jesus was here, or do we just continue to long for Him to come back and fix this mess?

The other day we had a chance to walk up to the Temple Mount Platform where the Dome of the Rock stands in all its golden glory. The place once filled with the Sacrifices of the Jews is now a Holy Place where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammad Journeyed to Heaven to talk to Allah.

Two thousand years ago this platform was the site of the Holy Temple for the Jews. They used this place to sacrifice animals to God, Pray for the Healing of their Nation, and even walk in the presence of God's Spirit in the Holy of Hollies.

Today, The Al Asqa mosque is one of the largest mosques in the region, and thousands of Muslim families use the area for green space in a city surrounded by concrete.

The KIVU students learned when the Mosque was built, why the Dome was constructed the way it is, and how many people use the facility as a family gathering place. It's quite impressive. But there's an obvious sense of tension.

Just below the Platform is the Western Wall where modern Jews pray to the Western Part of their Temple. Nobody prays together. Nobody shares the space. One site is Holy to One, while Another Group longs for the past to return.

After the Dome, we headed to the Church of the Holy Seplacur. This is the traditional place where Jesus was crucified. Walking through the Via De La Rosa to the crucifixion spot was a good place for students to see the birthplace of the Christian faith. They had a chance to see the traditional resurrection place where Jesus' tomb might have been, and then off to the Garden Tomb where another supposed place might be.

That's the way it is here. Everybody thinks they have the exact spot to the history of religious events. But every time someone says with difinity "This is it," Someone else mutters in the background, "Well....it might be over here."

We rounded the day off with the Holocaust Museum. This is a BEAUTIFUL monument built in memory of the Jews who endured the worst part of history in the 20th century. I can assure you, it was painful. Watching the atrocities committed by Hitler's Nazi army was disturbing at the very least. It's hard to watch one human being able to treat another human the way the Jews were treated, and many conversations emerged from our group.

The purpose of this trip is simple: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. How can we build a foundation of religious belief so we can LOVE GOD more than we did yesterday? AND, in the region of the world with the most conflict, How can we LOVE OTHERS here and back home?

I've been telling the students, "It's easy to pick sides in a religious conflict. You identify with your side and you push until you justify your original belief. It's easy to pick sides in a national debate. You put your best arguments up against someone else's, and then you keep strategizing until you come up victorious. It's easy to pick sides theologically. We all do this. We take our theological position we've been taught and then we continue to try and reinforce that position, because after all; the fundamentals behind who we are come from this bedrock of "Right-Ness" thinking.

It's SUPER hard to be able to look at a situation and try to LOVE OTHERS. And by LOVING OTHERS I mean identifying with the people or people group you have conflict with, and figure out what it means to LOVE how God called us to LOVE."

Clearly, the churches in the Holy Land struggle with LOVING OTHERS, and their even from the same religious tapestry. Greek Orthodox vs. Catholic vs. Armenian vs. Protestant and so on; they all have huge conflicts as to who owns the right to the first churches. Christians are fighting Christians over who has the right to the true Jesus.

Obviously, the different religious people groups are in tension. Muslim vs. Jew vs. Christian and so on; all try to snatch up different parts of the Holy Sites as they try to own their version of God on the planet. Each group trying to hold on to their right to the Truth.

There's an ethnic tension, Jews vs. Arabs. The crazy part about this tension is, some of the Arabs are Muslim, some of them Christian, and even some of the Jewish; but the tension between the casual Jews, Orthodox Jews, and Ultra-Orthodox Jews fuels the fire of tension ethnically. Each ethnicity believes it is holding tight to the right of their own identity group.

And then there's the national tension that throws everything off. Jews who believe God granted them the land. Palestinians who believe they settled the land thousands of years ago. The U.N. who granted land rights. Wars that decided new land rights. Peace Processes, Settlements, Refugees; they all muddy the conversation even further.

It's no wonder some of the smartest people on the planet have been struggling to figure out an answer for the people in this region only to see massive failure. This is not as easy as just seeing it the Birthplace of Jesus, the Origin of Christianity, the Holy place of Islam, or the Historical Place of the Jews. The pain that has settled into the hearts of all people continue to create massive mistrust of everyone else.

So our job....

LOVE OTHERS. How can we reach out and LOVE OTHERS? How can we LOVE the Palestinian with no home living in a Refugee Camp? How can we LOVE the Christian who is undergoing persecution from all sides?How can we LOVE the Jew, who lives in a world where historically they are propped up as the victim?How can we LOVE the construction worker who's just trying to make a living?How can we LOVE the religious official in the center of the church?How can we LOVE this kids running down the street?How can we LOVE the parents who are just trying to provide?

The bottom line to this issue was summed up best by an Israeli friend of mine. "Peace isn't going to happen through politics, sociology, psychology, or theology. Peace is going to happen when people begin learning how to listen to other people. Conflict only goes away when we realize we're all human trying to survive the best we know how."

I like that.

With a centerpiece of Jesus message of Loving God and Loving Others (Matthew 22:37-40) we may not be a part of solving anything over here, but we can look deep in our own sphere of influence and see conflict. We can apply the foundations of faith and the scenes of conflict we've experienced here to help us when conflict confronts us all back home.

March 31, 2014

After an 11 hour flight from Newark N.J., to Tel Aviv Israel, we made it.

Eighteen of us hopped on a tour bus from the airport and got out of the city as fast as we could. When the bus stopped we pulled over to the fishing town of Galilee/Tiberius. What an awesome view.

We started the day off at the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. We read from Matthew 5 and then walked around with visions of what it must have been like for Jesus and the disciples to teach their communities about the Kingdom of Heaven come to Earth.

Then we checked out the place where Jesus was supposed to have done the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 with the bread and fish.

Calire tried to walk on water as Jesus did in the Sea of Galilee. It didn't work out quite the same.

And then we took a sail boat ride on an old wooden boat that was similar to the one's they think Jesus and the Disciples took in their stormy sea story.

The final site of the day was to see the Baptism site on the Jordan River. Most of the boys were more interested in the fish than the story....Ummmm....but really, we had a GREAT TIME!!

Overall, the first day was filled to the brim with stuff, and we saw A LOT! This evening we sat down and downloaded all the emotions, sites, and what we were expecting for the future. Most interesting: Everybody is Bewildered that we are actually walking the footsteps of JESUS. That Jesus was actually here teaching, preaching, healing, and transforming the world is quite an incredible idea.

In America, we think a couple hundred years is old, but some of these towns around Galilee are THOUSANDS of years old today. It's absolutely crazy.

Tomorrow we'll begin again, EARLY.

If you want to follow online, you can like our FB page at http://www.campkivu.com/kivu, or you can follow us on Instagram @KIVUCOLORADO.

Today was busy, but pretty easy. It's about to heat up and get controversial here in the next couple of days. So you won't want to miss it. Keep checking back for updates.

March 27, 2014

In 2005, I started taking students around the world to serve. I quickly saw our World View Traning was lacking an important part to be significant in the lives of the students coming to our facility in Colorado, EXPERIENCE.

We began as a small group of 12 heading out for the great unknown in Costa Rica. Without taking up the majority of this blog with details, I can say with definity it was the best decision we ever made.

Learning to Love God and Love Others is our motto. We served for a whole week of real mission like service, and at the end of the trip we saw students who returned home different than when they arrived. They're care for others in their own community grew, and many of them have become life long friends who embody WHOLE FAITH LIVING.

On a parent night at KIVU a few years later, one of my parent friends asked me, "What is your longitudinal trajectory for kids to come to camp and travel around the world?"

I didn't really know how to respond at the time, but I've come to shape a response mirroring the effects of that first Costa Rican Experience.

"We are sold out to helping teenagers understand how to Love God and Love Others no matter what. At KIVU in Colorado, we learn how to Love Others through a variety of Colorado outdoor sports, interacting with students from around the world. At The KIVU Gap Year, we show students how to Live a Life of Loving Others through the paradigm of Jesus' Message while He was on earth, as they spend 9 months traveling the globe. And our KIVU intercontinental trips are designed to re-enforce that training as we travel together and learn about the world in service."

To date, we've been to China, Rwanda, Guatemala, Ecuador, The Philippines, and tomorrow we're heading out for Israel.

Eighteen of our KIVU friends are heading to The Holy Land to walk the footsteps of Jesus. We're going to put real geography to our study of the Bible AND we're going to interact with some of the foremost thinkers on the Israel/Palestinian Conflict.

Our mission: To LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS.

We're going to spend time with Israeli Jews, Palestinian Christians, Israeli Atheists, Palestinian Muslims, Israeli Muslims, all while we will see how the message of Jesus was one that broke down the walls of differing people groups. My hope is we come home being more PRO-PEOPLE than we were when we started.

As we walk the shores of the Sea of Galilee, see Jerusalem through the eyes of Jesus, and visit with friends in Bethlehem; this group is going to get a back stage pass to all things Holy Land.

I'll keep my blog up to date next week, and let you know how things are going. We've got lots of media outlet available, and one of the students is even going to Skype into his High School "Issues" class while we're there.

March 19, 2014

I came home last night to see Jamie and the girls watching their favorite show season opener of Dancing with the Stars. I don't know if you've spent anytime following DWTS over the last few seasons, but these people are CRAZY!!

This is the aerobic work out of a lifetime.

Each show they put together a new routine, and then they dance in front of millions of people. One professional dancer takes One Celebrity and they see how far they can compete through each season. It's pretty funny to watch, especially this season when Billy Dee Williams (77 year old Lando Calrision from Star Wars) is strutting his dance moves on the runway.

In any event, last night a couple of dancers went through the first part and then up comes Amy Purdy.

Amy Purdy is a doulbe amputee below the knees.

She doesn't have any legs.

AND SHES DANCING WITH THE STARS!!

She just won the bronze medal in the Sochi para olympic games for snowboarding last week, flew to L.A., then competed on Sunday nights Dancing With The Stars opener.

As I sat with Jamie and watched this performance, my eyes welled up with tears.

I couldn't help but think How many of us are sitting on the sidelines looking at the obstacles in our lives without searching for new opportunities?

I'm so inspired by what Amy is doing, and I'm cheering from a thousand miles away.

Thank you Amy for giving me a breath of fresh optimism in my life today.

No matter the hardship that comes up in front of me, I'm committed to looking for opportunities.

March 18, 2014

This morning I had the sacred privilege of teaching a small Men's Group in Durango Colorado. We've been meeting for nearly 7 months, and our mission is simple "How do we become Better Men?" We're working through Jesus' sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, and we're all finding new exciting ways to look at the Kingdom of Heaven revealed by Jesus. Often we find blind spots in our own thinking as we try to de-couple our own baggage from the essence of what Jesus calls us to be. But we're having fun, and we're learning a lot.

This morning I covered Matthew 6 where Jesus talks about being Anxious. "Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries of it's own." The whole section is about learning to live under the knowledge that God has everything in control, and we don't.

Even as I was talking there was this fear bubbling up to the surface in my own spirit. I had to look directly in the eyes of the "what if's" of my life, and reconcile Jesus' words. I started asking myself, "Do I really believe this?"

"Look at the lilies of the field how they toil and spin. They're hear today and gone tomorrow. Don't you think your heavenly father thinks more highly of you?"

If I'm honest, I would say, "Well, of course I think it, but do I really believe it?"

I work hard to build.I work hard to protect.I work hard to innovate, and discover.I work to understand how God wants me to live.But I rarely am able to sit back and just say, "God, this is all yours anyway."

I think somewhere in the core of my spirit I truly believe these major parts of my life are held together by the things I do, rather than the things God allows. If I'm honest, I live my life in a performance and reward narrative. If I do...God wil do.If I perform the way God asks me to perform, somehow he's going to reward that achievement.

As we sat in our small groups, one of our older wiser men said:"You know sometimes we ride Mountain bikes. We ride these incredible trails looking for the perfect line through the single tracks here in Durango. But if you look to the right or the left, if you start exploring the dangerous places instead of the lines, you're bike will go right to them. Your bike goes where your eyes lead.

The same will happen if you look to the worry-some possibilities of fear, failure, and worry. If you allow your mind to wonder to worry, you're life will lead you to that place instead of living the life God has fashioned for you. Look for opportunities, instead of obstacles."

I could have stood up right there and shouted AMEN!!!

How many times do I look in the wrong direction, and find myself consumed with fear rather than the abundance of life God promised me to live?

Today, I'm choosing to look for God's way, not my own.I'm looking for opportunity, not obstacle.I'm banking on Jesus' words, "Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worries of its own."

March 08, 2014

Sometimes when I leave Colorado, I feel like I'm entering a different planet. You might think, "Well, of course Andy, you guys made weed legal before any other state." And that's for sure a difference, but there's something about living in a place where people accept people for people.

At least in my community, there's a level handedness about people's ideas. If they want to smoke weed, then it's just another thing. If they want to talk left winged politics, then it's just another thing. Actually, I use it as an opportunity to present a different way of thinking. But in reality, nobody really cares. Ideas don't interfere with the social musings we enjoy.

When I travel then, I have to calibrate my own way of hearing different ideas to the way different parts of the country hear them. For example:

I was just in Little Rock at a Christian School. My message was simple, "THE issue in the Teen world today is Loneliness masked by their constant connectivity online."Pretty simple, RIGHT?

Well, to set up my thesis, I use several other issues people may think are THE issue, and I quickly try to show the audience how those ideas are symptoms of a core issue of ALONE.

Sexuality and Dating are an issue. We have to talk about them. The stats are grim for healthy relationships between boys and girls in school. But it's not THE issue.Faith Issues in the Public Square is a topic that we need to address, but it's not THE issue we need to deal with.Education all around is important, but at the end of the day, it's not THE issue teenagers are worrying about.THE issue we see clearly at the core of all these other problems is LONELINESS.

So I used "Drug Abuse" as one of the issues we need to talk about. Feeling rather confident I get the Marijuana issue since I AM from Colorado. I told a room full of Jr. HIgh Students, Teachers, and Administrators that we need to talk about it. "I believe in 5 years, legal recreational use is going to be legal in all 50 states. We have to talk about it, but it's not THE issue."

Well, I started getting emails.

Evidently some of the teachers were uncomfortable with my take on talking about Weed. Now mind you, I didn't encourage anyone to go smoke Marijuana in Jr. High. In fact, just the opposite. I can make a case that Marijuana is MOST dangerous in the age just past puberty. As their brains are connecting at a rapid rate, healthy living is important to make sure all those connections happen in a reasonably healthy way. (see EAT HEALTHY as an underpinning here)

But the teachers in the Jr. High weren't concerned with the fact I was trying to make a case to alleviate loneliness from our communities. No, they were more concerned with keeping the silence of smoking Marijuana in the presence of 7th-9th graders in their private school.

I'm a big boy.I can take the criticism.I can answer the emails.I can even stand toe to toe with someone who thinks different than me. (insert Colorado community here)But when teachers at an academy are unwilling to breach a topic that will INVADE their school within the next 5 years, it's absolutely ludicrous.

Weed is a PLAGUE in the public and private schools of America. It's EVERYWHERE.If you get a chance to sit down with your average teenager from anywhere in the country today, you'll find alarming percentages of pot heads in the schools. What was once a movie for adults to laugh and scoff at, is now a real deal in the hallways of high schools today. And what's more, it's TOTALLY accepted.

It's a non-conversation.Where it was once a place of exclusion for "THOSE" kids, now it's just something like, "Yea...they smoke weed." And that's the end of the conversation. There's no shame. There's no guilt. There's no categorization. Athletes are smoking, Academics are smoking, Gamers are smoking, Fringe kids are smoking, Musicians are smoking, It's just the way it is.

To my teacher friends, "YOU are really hurting your students if you don't have an open discussion about what they are going to face in the next year or so. If you think your school is free from the Cannibas Revolution, you'll turn around in three years and it will have overgrown you." (pun intended)

To my parent friends, "No longer can you hide behind the shadows of 'I don't want them to know something they don't need to know at this age.' If your kid is over 10, it's time to start talking about the affects of Marijuana in your home. I promise, if you fail on this one, you're going to find the drug paraphernalia in your home before you know it."

We all think we can protect our kids from the ills of the world. But in reality, all we can do is coach them through it. You're not going to stop introduction to substances to your kid. You can't be with them every hour of their lives. But you can begin to coach them. Early and Often, you can set up boundaries they know they have to respect to live in your home.

March 07, 2014

It's been nearly 15 years since I drove the roads of Little Rock Arkansas. For those of you who don't know, I graduated from a small Christian School in the largest city in the state of Arkansas. This week, I was graciously hosted to come back and share what I've been up to, how our family has grown, and see some of the old "stomping grounds."

I don't know if you've ever had the chance to do those class reunions of sorts, but there's something nostalgic about going back to the places that make us, shape us, and form us so early in life.

When I landed in Little Rock last Tuesday evening, all that came flashing back in a heartbeat. Late night basketball games, runs with my friends down the main drag, and early relationships at church, school, and in the community that quite literally have shaped the DNA of who I am.

Waiting patiently at the baggage claim were my new friends The Caldwells. They were incredible!! When families host me in their city, it can be nerve racking. I mean really, who wants to show someone else how family functions? But the Caldwells were kind, honest, and delightful the entire time I was in their home.

We started Wednesday morning at Little Rock Christian Academy, a large private school in Little Rock which boasts of a Blue Ribbon School. For those of you who don't know the Blue Ribbon schools, these are the schools in the country who have attained the highest level of proficiency in academics, athletics, and facilty. They are the schools sending kids to high end colleges, preparing their way to lead the world in the next generation.

My old Anatomy teacher, Patrick Salman, is one of the leaders in the school's administration; and we spent a whole afternoon laughing and recalling the last several years. Walking down memory lane with him was incredible. Thanks Mr. Salman. The people God places in our young lives make a difference, and the time you took to invest in me...well I'm GRATEFUL.

Then I had a unique opportunity to talk to my old church, Fellowship Bible Church. This is one of those key churches in the country at the forefront of the Bible Church Movement, and pastors like Robert Lewis, Bill Parkinson, and Bill Wellons started something special WAY BACK IN THE 80's.

The campus now boasts of 5000 members, which is astounding for such a small town, and they're trying to help people along a spiritual journey in a very strange time in our world. Grace is the word of the year, and a few of the current pastors helped me see how they are investing in the lives of thousands there in Little Rock. I'm thankful to my new friend Tim who leads a large youth group trying to help students understand how to ask good questions about faith.

All in all, the experience was, well...interesting. The home I thought was SO big, actually is a Big-Small town. Everybody knows everybody, and it's easy to navigate the schools and the social circles. But more importantly, I reflect on the power of experiences when we're young.

The programs I was involved in shaped me.The people who invested in me formed me.The social pressure I was exposed to, molded me to think the way I think today. And it reminded me how important it is that we take good care of how our kids are being raised today.

I'm drawn to be intentional about the programs, people, and places my kids have access to. I'm hopeful my kids have a BIG view of the world.I'm excited to see how my own children will grow and respond to the forces in their own lives shaping them even today.

And in the middle of all this reflection I found a unique perspective. Even though those experiences shaped my own DNA, I'm not shackled by them. I'm different than when I was in that town. It helped form me young, but it didn't dictate the hope I have for the future. And even in the midst of the memory lane, I found a freedom from the romanticism I once thought was my home.

The town has changed.The people are all grown up.The institutions I knew, are entirely different from two decades ago.

I suppose that's how it's supposed to be.

So to finish my three days in Little Rock:

To Little Rock, I say THANKS> Thank you for the time I spent, the ideas I challenged, and the journey you set me on so long ago.

To the Caldwells, I say THANKS>Thank you for taking me in your home and treating me as a friend, even though we've only known ABOUT one another.

To all my friends I met after being gone for 15 years, I say THANKS>Thank you for all the wonderful experiences that set me on a journey in the this large world to understand who I am, where I'm going, and how to be a good friend to so many across the world.

And now it's time to be home, take a break from technology, and relax with the greatest Party of 7 I know.

March 03, 2014

Lent season is upon us again. The rhythm of the faith calendar is interesting, and while most of my protestant friends don't understand Lent, it's a part of millions of believer's lives this time of year.

As I was preparing my head space for Lent this year, I started reading the Passion week again. You know the part of Jesus' journey from the countryside to Jerusalem? It starts with the Palm entry, the trial before Caiaphas, and ultimately His crucifixion on Golgotha.

The part of the story that stood out to me this morning was the time in the Garden.

Two years ago, I went to the Garden outside the walls of Jerusalem; and it was THE most intense experience for me. According to the botanists, the trees standing in the garden today are some of the same trees Jesus might have leaned against during the beginning of the suffering He was about to endure. Standing in the middle of the garden, I felt the weight of what it must have been like.

Of course, I don't know what it's like to be Jesus.I don't know what it's like to face life threatening circumstances while my buddies lay sleeping by my side.I don't know the agony Jesus must have known facing a separation from the Father. But somehow in the middle of that small patch of olive trees, I sensed the Alone-ness.

Luke writes the story like this:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:39-44)

The other gospel writers talk about Jesus' continued pressing for his disciples to pray for Him, but He found them sleeping each time he went to them. But Luke shows us that an Angel had to be sent from Heaven to comfort Jesus.

As I was reading this section this morning, my heart ached again. Not unlike the moments I spent in the Garden myself, I felt the agony of a man longing for his friends to be with him, but because of their inadequacy, God had to send an angel.

Then I began to wonder...

How many of us are walking through life's hard issues?We look around for those who will walk with us, but often our friends are busy, they don't get it, or they pay attention to their own self interest. Not wanting to bother, we set out on our own and try to make it...We try to survive.

Even Jesus needed an angel, and that's where my soul is dwelling today.

When life gets hard, and you face trials of many kinds, Who ministers to you?

Is there a place you can go, someone who knows, and maybe more importantly someone who really cares for you and your well being?

Before Lent begins, I'm dwelling on this "weight of pain" we all deal with as humans.

February 17, 2014

Last night I was driving home, kids in the back, holding my wife's hand; when all of the sudden a big bright light appeared over the top of the mountain. I could see it bright in the rear view mirror, and for a second I thought someone was shining a huge spot light right in the back window of our car.

Then, as I looked closer, I found it wasn't a spotlight, it wasn't a car light at all, it was the full moon rising for the evening.

I don't know what the moon looked like at your home last night, but we were spectators to a beautiful bright full moon. It was incredible!! It seemed like it was right over the mountain range above our house, and it had this crazy lure to it drawing my attention away from the road. I couldn't stop looking at it.

When we got home we all hopped out of the car, and I just stared up at the night sky.

Have you ever done that? Maybe you don't have access to a clear night sky because you're surrounded by city lights. So here, do this...Drive about 20 minutes outside the edge of your town one night, and just look up. Here in Colorado when we look up you can see millions of stars. There's actually a place here on our property where, in the summer, you can stand and see the biggest band of the milky way strewn across the night sky. It's incredible!!

So this morning, I was working on my prayer and meditation. I thought about how Jesus called us to pray, "Our Father...who art in Heaven...Hallowed be thy name..."

And for some reason that moon just kept creeping in my head. I couldn't shake it.The questions coming in my being were clear:

Do you know how much stuff is out there we haven't even seen yet?How big is the universe?If you're out there God, I'm amazed you have all this under control!!Who am I to stand before a moon like last night and be a part of this great story called life?

Literally for about 30 minutes...I....Just...Stopped.

I stopped to recognize how small I really am.I stopped to see the insignificance of my vapor of a life in relation to all this creation around me.And then I stopped and just thought about how every breath I breathe is connected to the same creation I'm in awe of.

Every atom of Oxygen I take in my lungs is somehow connected to the Big creator. Every morsol of Carbon Dioxide I breathe out goes into the great big world around me.Every part of me is connected to the bigger story.

And so is yours.

So as you think today about your place in the world, don't forget, with every breath you take, YOU are a part of something much larger.

February 14, 2014

On this Valentine's Day, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for my dear wife Jamie Jo. She's an incredible person both inside and out. For the last 20 years of knowing Jamie, she's been an un-dying supporter, encourager, and friend. On the mountain tops of life, she's there to celebrate with me and rejoice in the Victory. And in the darkest times of doubt and despair, she's not only willing but rushes to my aid.

Her laugh is contagious.Her smile puts every situation at ease.Her humor erupts the most boring of groups.Her care for others is unmatched.She reaches out to those in need like no one I've ever known.As a mother of 5, she's constantly working to be better, every day.She works tirelessly.And there's never a moment she looks for her own needs.She's quick witted, and finds the fastest ways to make people laugh.Her ability to see to the core of my soul is so refreshing.She's never too tired to help me think through problemsShe says "Yes" to most people who ask her to give.

On this Valentine's Day, I'm excited to see what adventures are out there unfolding for our next year, our next five years, and even to the end.

Thanks Jamie Jo for being a wonderful example of how to love generously. You're one in a million, and I want the whole world to know!!

It's been almost a month now. A Month filled with the most unlikely, interesting, thought provoking meetings.

I met a woman in the Middle East Pushing for women's rights in the region. I met a President from a small "stan" country looking for help becoming a NATO member from the American Congress. I met a Minister of Education interested in helping to create new ways of teaching students in his home country. I met an eastern european banker looking to spread his bank's reach to America. I met a student in New York who courageously came out of the closet and told his school he's gay. I met a Marxist who lives in Texas. (I know..how does that happen?) I met an Orthodox Jew married to a Ukrainian woman who both taught me how to welcome the Shabbat in a 15 minute reading of the Shama and various Torah scriptures.

For a month, I've been meeting all these people who have dramatically different family, cultural, and faith values than I do; but they also hold much of the same human-ness I have.

It's made me think deeply about how I see the world. It's caused a reflection of my soul about the way we connect with people, how we interact with who we interact with, why we choose to socialize with some while distancing ourselves from...well...THE OTHER.

The Other is a term I've learned this month from a wise Jordanian friend. We all have a tendency to surround ourselves with people who look like us, believe like us, have an education like us, make about as much money as we make, and they all give us a blanket feeling of safety. But when THE OTHER comes into our world, we don't know what to do.

When someone enters a sphere of influence that is 180 degrees different, or maybe entirely in opposition to our views, how do we respond? What is our play?

Some will run interference and try to avoid THE OTHER. Conflict is a place for the young to battle, and after a certain phase of life, it's just easier to keep THE OTHER at bay.

Some will run head to head and 'fight for the truth' they hold dear. They sense a threatening from THE OTHER that might change the way they live, who they see, or how they're seen. This posture tends to create battle lines where two are willing to fight to the death, often metaphorical, but maybe a case could be made for literal war here. We go and fight the other!!

And then there's a third way, the Way of Jesus.

Jesus, being made in the image of God, was constantly surrounded by THE OTHER. In fact, THE OTHER is everyone else. Imagine for a second how Jesus forewent His right to being the same with God, and came to live here on earth with...THE OTHER. He gave up the streets of gold, the angels singing His name, and the adoration of Heavenly Holiness to be with humanity.

Jesus' THE OTHER was: The woman at the well The man with a dying son The Prostitute His friend Lazarus who died The Jewish leaders of the day The Roman Empire who ruled the land The woman who touched his Garment The leper who needed to be healed The Disciples who constantly didn't understand The people who walked away from the teaching of the God/Man

And he chose to live among them.

Today, I'm feeling quite humbled to follow Jesus who saw THE OTHER as someone who was worth getting to know, someone worth healing, and ultimately someone worth sacrificing for.

I want my life to be consumed with THE OTHER. I want to love THE OTHER with a giant spirit. Even when the airlines cancel my flight... Or a publisher rejects a book... Even when a blogger posts something negative... Or when my family fights for no obvious reason... I want to love THE OTHER in abundance today.

February 13, 2014

A recent article in USA today shows that teenagers in America are stressed. You may ask, "So what else is new?" Teenagers have always been stressed. They wake up and have to get to school. At school, they have to pay attention, do the work, meet deadlines, it's all a part of growing up and figuring out how to navigate life, right?

It may be the case the teenage years have always been stressful, but according to Michael Bradley, a psychologist in Feasterville, Pa., who specializes in teens...

"I'm not sure it would be the clinical definition of stress. I think they get stressed because somebody puts a demand on them and they don't want to do it," he says. "However, on their behalf, I will fall back on the fact that hard numbers tell us kids are more anxious and depressed than they've ever been."

We know stress is a driving force in anxiety causing people to fear, change behavior, and contributes to some of the most dangerous behavior mechanism for students to figure out how to cope with their stress.

According to the article there are several indicators that show teenagers are reaching out for relief, and the most dramatic evidence is the rate of attempted suicide. The article sites, "According to a study about depression published in 2012 in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, found that rates of suicide attempts were significantly higher in adolescents ages 13-17 than in emerging adults (ages 18-23) or adults (24-30)."

So what do we do?

Kristen Race, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., author of the book Mindful Parenting, out in January, says teens are generally honest about responding to confidential surveys. She confirms that teens aren't simply using stress as a 'pass card' but they're actually being pressured from all sides of life.

In addition, Race comments, "If you look at teen suicide statistics, stress is one of the things that leads to suicide attempts," she says. "It's incredibly important to have the downtime, and it makes sense to have a dramatic shift in the summer. They sleep more in the summer, and that's going to enormously increase their ability to think positively. "

I've been advocating this idea of a total break from the norm during the summer months. Teenagers need to sleep, they need to experience a different rhythm of life, and ultimately they need places where they can experience joy. It's the way it used to be. Summer was a time for refreshing and renewal.

Again, I'm going to plug our summer camp in Colorado, CAMP KIVU. Our staff here have a culmination of over 100 years of experience in helping students take a break from life. They have the chance to raft, hike, bike, fish, or just simply sit and enjoy the company of like minded teens from around the world.

We specialize in giving kids a different speed of life, and we intentionally help kids be kids.

As a culture, we should be VERY CONCERNED how our teenagers are learning to deal with stress, because the habits they develop today will carry over to adulthood. A well intentioned break in the mountains of Colorado may be just what the doctor ordered.

February 12, 2014

I knew it wouldn't take that long. Advertisers are increasingly realizing we are ALL ALONE!! Smartphone technology may connect us quickly, or make work mobile, or even give us access to information never seen before; but the reality is...WE DONT KNOW HOW TO BE TOGETHER

I was watching the olympics the other night when this commercial came on, and I raised my hands in affirmation. So many times last week I was with a group of people who were paying more attention to the people on their phones than the people they were with in the group.

October of 2013, I released a book about this. ALONE: FINDING CONNECTION IN A LONELY WORLD speaks to a generation who doesn't know life without technology. The idea that we develop stories together, pay attention to other people, and be 'in the moment,' is a consuming problem.

I was on the Metro in Washington D.C. last week when I looked down the rail to find every single person typing away on their smartphone. I was in a small group of teenagers the week before, and if you didn't know any better, you might have thought there was some late breaking news everyone had to know at that moment. They sat in silence around a circle talking with someone else in a far off tech world.

After the Chevy Commercial, I saw this

Can you imagine?

Can you even think of a day when you're about to give a gift to someone and you have to text them to look at you in the eyes?

Well, that day is here!!! And it's only getting worse.

We developed a place to help teenagers navigate this world. Our 500 acres in Southwest Colorado is a magical place of adventure and relational learning. We're teaching kids how to put the phone down for a bit and look each other in the eyes.

You might say, "Well, that's not my kid. They know how to have friendships, just look at the people around them. They're all doing the same thing." To which I would reply "EXACTLY!"

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of connecting through all types of social media, internet tools, and quick text. But if we don't carve out a time where we can learn how to relate to the people we are with, I'm afraid we'll have a world full of technobots.

The ability to imagine, create, and think outside a space where you're constantly connected is something of an art today. And the crazy part of the equation is: We all feel ALONE. There's a deep dark cavern in our soul where we wonder if there will be people who like us in real time. We've given up our need for friendships to see who has liked my Instagram picture, or who has re-tweeted my twitter comment, or who is commenting on my Facebook wall.

What will we become if we can't navigate the fear of rejection with people in front of us so we can learn what it means to collaborate as human?

If you're like me, and you want to continue living an adventurous life in tandem with a technology life, then we've got to continue reaching out to students who NEED THIS.

Each summer at Camp KIVU we place those technology devices in a safe for two weeks. We tell our students, "We love the ability to connect and we don't think technology is evil, but we do want you to learn what it means to be in the moment together."

If you're living in a home where it's harder and harder to communicate with your kids, Check out KIVU today, and plan on fasting from your technology for 2 weeks.

And if that won't work out in your schedule, be sure to check out my book ALONE. It's available at Amazon, Barnes And Nobel, and I'll even send you a signed copy if you want to email me at Andy@campkivu.com.

This is a cultural problem we can FIX!! But we can't sit on the sidelines hoping it will go away. We're only going to get faster in our communication, and I'm afraid we're going to wind up all ALONE.

February 11, 2014

Over the last few months I've been thinking about identity. How do we identify ourselves? How do we identify others?

Not that long ago I was sitting in New York with some family friends, and as I listened to the conversation it struck me, we all have boxes we create to put others in so we can feel comfortable.

"Oh you know Rick, he's an Irish Catholic that works down on Wall Street" the matriarch said.

"Yea, he's married to Jean from that Orthodox Jewish Family." the man replied.

Over and over again, it seemed like everybody in their world was tied to a religious group, an ethnic group, or a vocational group which helped to qualify the conversation. Before long I started to think, "I wonder how I would indentify myself to others?"

I can try and put a claim on ethnic race, vocation, and religion, but in each instance I'm not really satisfied with the baggage each one of those answers comes with.

I'm white - which to my African-American friends might mean I'm a part of a majority class here in America who sets rules and has some advantage in life.I'm Christian - which to my Jewish friends might bring back memories of oppression, crusades, or even holocaust. I'm a University Graduate - which to my homeless friends carves out a 'silver spoon' kind of lifestyle unable to identify with the plight of those who weren't able to go to college.I'm employed - which to the jobless around the world means I identify with the lucky ones who have the opportunity to provide for my familyI'm American - which to my Middle Eastern friends means I walk in tandum with the foreign policy decisions of my governmentI'm from Colorado - which to the rest of America means I'm surely smoking weed any chance I get

Do you see how confusing it is to be put in a box where your identiy might not line up with what people think?

Of course these are all stereotypes and false at every comment, but we all do this. We all have little boxes we create so we can feel more comfortable about the relationships we get in. We all identify others, but how often do we identify ourselves?

I wonder...

If someone really wanted to know the core of who I am, without all the outside stereotypical boxes we create for one another; What would they find?

What would they find in your core? Who are you when social media is turned off?What are the character qualities you are consistently living by no matter who you talk to?

And maybe the more important question is, how do you begin to live by those core values so people can know you without the boxes?

I know what I want to be. I know what I think I am.But I'm taking inventory today to see how well I live those core identity principles to the world.

So today, take 15 minutes to think about who are you and see if there are blind spots in your life that may be putting you in a box you don't want to be in.

May we be people who live who we are at the core.May we stand in the face of the fear of rejection so we can be who we were created to be.May we thwart those things that take us to places where our actions don't line up with who we are.

I got home last Friday after being gone for nearly a month, and my kids were ready. I opened the door, and with their best laser focus my kids said, "DAD!! The Lego movie is out, we HAVE TO GO!"

So Saturday afternoon I took my kids to see this block busting surprise movie of February. I must admit, if you've read this blog for any family posts you know my dislike of legos. When my kids were little I remember stepping on those stupid little blocks in the middle of the night barefoot and on the verge of cussing.

They never built the stuff on the box.They always lost the little people.I just have to be honest, Legos were no where near my favorite toy go-to for Christmas or Birthdays.

So you can imagine I wasn't exactly pumped to see this movie with the horrid little toy people.

Opening credits began, and immediately I was drawn in. It was like Clay Mation with Legos. So even though I don't like the toy blocks, I can totally appreciate the movie makers effort to make this movie with legos. I'm sure they had some kind of animatronic kind of CGI or something, but it was really interesting the way they filmed it.

The story was another great surprise!!

The evil Mr. Business is trying to build everything in the city with instructions, while the master builders were the creatives building anything they could imagine. After a pseudo star wars type of prophecy is revealed, the regular guy is thrown into the mix with master builders to save the universe.

In the end the creative story was to allow room in the world for creatives AND those who like to follow instructions. I sat in my seat marveling at the way the writers were able to fuse these two ideas together, as I'm one of the creators and my oldest son is a 'follow the instruction' kind of kid.

When I thought about the morale of the story on the drive home, I was thinking about the way we do faith. Some of us are 'follow the rules' type of faith people, while others are creatives searching for the most imaginative way to follow Jesus that we can. (one guess as to which one I am)

The most freeing part of being a part of the family of God is: You can do it either way.

God loves people on both sides of this conversation while He calls for us to live a life full of Grace and Full of Obedience. The grand paradox of living life within the boundaries of God's Kingdom is learning how to live in a world with both kinds of people. To be honest, this tension often reveals itself in nit-picking-fits of 'Who's the MOST right?'

For me: The best way to learn how to love as God loves is to live in a world trying to understand how God loves both. God loves those who's faith is credited them as righteous, and God loves those who are willing to live a life of sacrifice. Neither is more holy than the other as evidenced by the characters we read in scripture. For Abraham, his faith was credited as righteous. And as for Stephen, he was the greatest follower of Jesus who ever lived.

So today, I'm encouraged by a little film about building with toy blocks. Being creative and imaginative CAN exist with those who try and figure out the rules and boundaries God set for us here on earth.

February 03, 2014

This morning I had a bit of a 'rest' day, whatever that really means. I had two major 'to do's.'

#1. Since I'm in Washington D.C. this week for meetings at the National Prayer Breakfast, I was told to GET A HAIRCUT. I know hair isn't that big of a deal to my fellow Durangoneons (people from Durango Colorado) but the rest of the world seems to keep this idea that your hair gives a first impression. My attitude: D.U.M. Who cares? But somewhere in this world people really do. So I popped into a barber shop here in D.C. down the road from my hotel, and had a young lady from China cut my hair.

I could've just told her to hurry up, and sit there in anonymity; but I took some time to get to know her. She told me about how she got to D.C., why she loved cutting hair, and then we got into how much she loved her family here in D.C. I heard a woman really share her deepest concern for her brother living in New York, her Mother and Father now growing old and getting sick, and how she worked to make sure she shouldered the responsibility of the family.

It didn't take much. Just a smile and an interest.When you stop to ask people how they are, most are willing to share life together.

After all, isn't that how we were created to be?

#2. My wonderful friend in Dallas Texas bought me a Christmas gift for this week, and I needed to get some shoes to match this impressive suit.

Again, for my friends in Durango this is going to sound ridiculous, but you can't wear snowboots with a suit. So I walked right into a small shoe shop down the road, and told the man inside I was in need for some good shoes to go with this incredible suit.

He tried to sell me some winged tips. Not happening.He went on to slipper like dress shoes.Still not impressed.Then we just started talking.

He told me how he lived in a political family and knew how to dress in these circumstances. He shared his work history, and then asked me what I did. When I told him about The KIVU Gap Year, he and I shared an hour just having fun as we searched for the perfect shoes.

I walked out knowing more about shoes than I ever though existed, but more importantly, I walked out with a new friend. "Come back and tell me how your meetings went. I'd love to hear some updates." he said as we shook hands to leave.

It doesn't really take anything but time. Sure I could have gone to a faster barber and I certainly didn't need to spend an hour in the shoe store, but time is the currency we all have to give. Busy lives don't get us any closer to the end goal, they just keep us from enjoying the presence of others in our lives.

So today, STOP!!!!Say hi to the people you're interacting with, and don't be afraid to share your life. You might not get to check off everything on your list, but you'll be a whole lot richer than before you began the day.

January 30, 2014

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I wonder....

As I look around at my fellow travelers today, "How many people are really experiencing an Abundant Life?"

Tethered to their smart phones, it seems like everybody is busy, but no one is smiling.Watching the television screens like the Zombies on Walking Dead, they seem to be pre-occupied, but no one is really communicating. I sit back and watch people walk by and just think, "Have we got this all wrong?"

We try our best to stay busy as if there's some sort of identity found in the ability to fill up our daily schedule. We push the limits of work now that we have devices that can check our email in real time, connect with our friends on our favorite social media platform, and all the while it seems like life is just passing.

I can't help but ask, "Is this the abundant life Jesus called for?"

The people who seem to have money would naturally fall into the category of those we assume are the most abundant, but they look eerily similar to those who don't have.

The people with power walk briskly down the hallway and we assume they have all they've worked for and achieved. But something inside of me senses the same mundane rat wheel kind of life the others are trolling about on.

And then, I met a man who shines shoes.

He's singing.He's smiling.He's happy to be alive.He's engaging.He's interested in the people who are sitting at his station. He's asking real life questions about where people are going, how long they'll be there, what they think about the up coming superbowl, and what they enjoy.

Before long, I've eavesdropped on a conversation that may be mistaken for two long lost friends catching up with one another in the sacred moment of being human.

So why can't we get this?

Abundant life has little to do with money, power, prestige, fashion, or the self introspective life most of us think is apropriate. This old man shoe shiner has just taught me a lesson. Abundant life is living in the moment with our fellow mankind.

It's exploring and un-earthing the stories of the other.It's celebrating the victories of life together, and mourning the times we can share.Abundance doesn't come out of the idea of separation and self creating...Abundance comes out of the wealth of sharing with one another.

Jesus said, "It's better to give than to receive." And I believe abundance comes out of the wealth attached to giving.

Giving a smile.Giving of time.Giving of care.Giving of whatever need the other has in this moment.

Yes, this is abundance.

The Journey IS the abundance, and the destination is a figment we made up to justify our business.

January 29, 2014

Maybe it's just because I'm focused on music this week, but every now and then I LOVE BRAGGING on students who are making a difference in the world. Today, I just want to brag a bit on my friends with Colony House. This band has a unique sound and some SUPER CREATIVE ways of telling stories. Check out this video, and then pop over to Their FaceBook Page. Like em, and find out what all is new in the world of COLONY HOUSE. These guys are SUPER INCREDIBLE!!

January 28, 2014

I've seen much written about the Grammy Awards this year online. I've watched as those who think the world is going to hell in a hand basket chime in to use music's biggest night as proof we're all in trouble. Whether it's the talk about the emphasis on marriage equality, the risque dresses leaving little to the imagination, or the Daft Punk helmets, most of the articles I've read leave me scratching my head wondering how to review such an event.

I must admit, I was on an airplane from Dallas to Durango Colorado when the show began, so I've had to do a little catch up on the performances and try to understand what all the buzz is really about. I watched Beyonce dance provocatively around a stool while her husband JZ chimed in with their duet. I immediately cruised over to twitter to see what my "faith" tribe would say.

"I don't get it. They just want to deal with the human problem of angst on the world's stage." one tweeter posted.

"That guy's hat looks like Yogi Bear" another chimmed in.

"What's with the Daft Punk helmets. Just goes to show you how weird music is." I read from another person I follow.

Comment after comment seemed to bring up the negative parts of the Grammy awards and how un-christian they were, but none I read tried to understand the "whys" of the event.

Look, every since I started watching the Grammy's it's been strange. Madonna pranced around in a wedding dress to "Like a Virgin," Brittney Spears then Kissed Madonna on the stage in front of the world at one show, and Lady Gaga dressed up in a slab of prime rib. It's always been a little strange for the average viewer.

But for some reason, during the show this year, I felt as though there was a considerable amount of surprise. It's almost as though some were using their platform on twitter to continue propagating the idea of fear as the world spins around them. And believe me, I know fear drives people.

It drives people to a website for safety and security.It drives people to a message of hope in the face of what they don't understand.It can drive people into an "US" -those who mock artists- against a "THEM" -the artists themselves- mentality that rallies a group of people against one another.

And as I sat back and thought about what was going on I couldn't help myself from wondering, "Where are the people who are willing to LOVE others in spite of the debauchery going on?" Instead of openly mocking someone else who is trying to paint a picture of the pain, the love, the victory, or the celebrity they long for; who is going to help them find the contentment of being human in the face of all the vice?

I'm not interested in the "so and so did this" and did you see "so and so did that," as much as I'm interested in wondering 'How would Jesus Love Here?'

It's easy to sit on the high throne of right and wrong, and convince your followers that purity is your righteous goal, but is that what Jesus would do?

I don't think so.

I think Jesus would sit with artists crying out in pain and listen.I think Jesus would listen to their story, give unrelenting compassion, and see to the heart of the human who longs for right relationship with God and Mankind.I think Jesus would give hope, not falter to the easier road of being an armchair quarterback.I think Jesus would welcome people to the Kingdom of God instead of alienating others creating an Us versus Them narrative.

So my review has little to do with what was done, and more to do with how we respond. If you find artists who are pushing the boundaries of the morality you find in scripture, instead of being the critical voice, maybe it's time to take a voice of understanding.

I'm not writing to condone the behavior of people who have the world's largest stage to perform, but I am asking deeper questions than, "Did you see that?" giving in to the very shock nature I'm being asked to respond to.

May our hearts line up with the God who created all mankind. May we find a voice that can truly care for the other. May we show God's love to a culture crying desperately to know and be known. For when the validation of the creator becomes real, our insecurities fade away like a vapor and we can truly find rhythm in what HE has created us for.

January 18, 2014

Today I just want to write something profound but close to home. In my continued attitude of gratefulness, I want to tell the world, I'm thankful for my kids. From 15 years old down to six, These five fill my life with incredible adventure.

Whether we're preparing for the latest military training class, playing video games in the living room, snowboarding in Colorado, surfing in Mexico, or just hanging out together; I'm thankful for the Braner Party of 7. You guys are awesome!!

First, working to secure our KIVU Gap Year destinations in Jordan, and spending time with a dear friend in the region has been incredible. I'm learning so much, it can't really be culled in a blog post, but for now....

I'm learning from people in the Middle East who are recognizing the importance of caring for people intentionally. They've long given up merely loving people as they try desperately to find common threads of existence. Now, there are people who are intentionally trying to develop relational needs, emotional needs, and critical care methods to begin healing the great divide plaguing their communities.

As I sit and listen to Christians giving to Jews, and Jews giving to Muslims, and Muslims giving to Christians all around; there's a sense that our world back home is in need of learning how to love intentionally. This region is giving me a Masters Degree course on how to Love people.

We try our best to intuitively give to those around us, but my constant personal battle is learning how to make it count. The questions I'm wrestling with is, "How do I meet the relational needs of those around me? AND Am I meeting them where they need to be met?"

Last night I had a conversation with a Middle Eastern Christian Man who helped me see a new principle. "If you give your wife a gift, that's step one. But if you give her something she doesn't want or desire, then you may be inviting more pain into your relationship. You may give her a gift, but if it's the wrong gift she may notice you don't really know her at all. So when she decides to voice an opinion 'Thank you' but disregards the gift with a less than excited response, my natural reaction is 'I TRIED for goodness sake.' But in relationships 'I TRIED' isn't good enough. 'I TRIED' is sloppy. 'I TRIED' is second best. Knowing someone intimately should produce a gift that they know you took time to think about and meet their needs."

I thought about how many times I've blown this in my own family. Coming right off Christmas, I wonder how many of you have blown this principle. We just bought an insane amount of gifts, but for what? So we can say 'Look what I bought you. I'm a good person?' We spent an inordinate amount of resources to check the box of Christmas gifts because somehow we believe it's our duty, not our deep desire to meet the needs of people around us. What a WASTE!!!

How many of those types of gifts wind up in the trash can by now because they had no intrinsic meaning tied to the giver. If we were truly concerned about the people we gave our presents to, we would have known exactly the right gift to fill their heart with joy. And isn't that what Christmas is all about anyway? Giving gifts to give gifts is almost like walking outside on a nice day and saying, "Hey, it's a nice day out." Everyone knows it's a nice day. But if we truly took time to feel the sunshine on our skin, take a deep breath from the cool crisp air, and allow the nature around us to take our minds to a wonderful place of creation; we could say "Hey it's a nice day out" and deep within our soul be grateful for what a truly beautiful life we have.

Everyone likes to be given things, but the right gift is a wonderful step towards intentionally caring about those around us. It begins to form bonds of trust when people sense a deep emotional connection to the gifts we give. Then and only then will the giver be as grateful as the recipient.

I asked my friend, "So how do you know what the right gift is for my wife?"
"Have you asked her?" He said with a simplicity that would profoundly blow my proverbial brain out of my head.
"Well, there's that..." I responded.

January 17, 2014

Today I met a man born in Qatar. He is a Palestinian Christian whose family was moved out of Israel in 1948. His grandfather set up shop in Qatar, and his father decided to move the family to Niger when he was young. (talk about multi-cultural)

While living in Niger, His father was going to work one day and saw a man slumped over on the side of the road. He rushed his car to the side of the road and drove to the hospital as fast as he could. The man was in minutes of passing away of some sort of heart attack or something. So as is custom in Niger, He paid the emergency room bill to get the man admitted, and continued to check up on him until he was well enough to talk.

One day he was visiting the ER and the sick man was alert and well. He asked him, "Is there anyone I can call? Your family? Your friends? I need to let them know you are ok."

The man responded, "Call the Israeli embassy."
The father shook his head in disbelief. "Who??"
"Please call the Israeli embassy." the man in the hospital bed asked politely.

The father called the Israeli embassy in Niger, and come to find out the man in need, was actually working as a diplomat in the Israeli embassy.

Talk about a strange course of events!! Here a Palestinian Christian unknowingly helped an Israeli diplomat from dying in the middle of a lonely African Road.

He could have justified his day and just kept on driving by.
He could have gone deep into the well of pain and hurt the man's heritage caused his own.
He might have even wished this man to die, but instead; he reached out to save his life.

My friend continued the story for almost thirty minutes, full of unbelieving details. But at the heart of the story the Israeli diplomat kept asking the man why he helped. And the father replied, "Because Jesus asked me to love my neighbor..."

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

After his family is unable to return to certain parts of their homeland, he reaches out to help the very man who had the power to let him back in. And after saving the man's life, they formed a bond of friendship exchanging meals with their families, playing with their kids, and even allowing them to return to Israel to set up a new life in their previous homeland.

After nearly a decade, the man called the Father and told him he was in the late stage of cancer. "I just wanted to call you and tell you how meaningful our relationship has been, and because of Jesus, I'm here to be grateful to you for your kindness."

I nearly started crying at the dinner table tonight. I've never heard a story with such compassion and full of love where two people who come from the most distant of backgrounds could share life with such love and care.

So on this night, sitting here finishing up our work in the Holy Land, I'm moved to remind my friends, To Love God is To Love Our Neighbor, no matter who they are. And to experience the great reconciliation we all need to know, He calls us to even love our enemy. Jesus called us to show love and compassion in every circumstance, and TONIGHT, I'm more committed to that concept than ever.

Here in the Holy Land it takes shape when I smile at my Palestinian friends, break bread with my Israeli friends, and spend time with my Muslim friends. Loving People because they live life, and share the same air we both breathe on this planet, seems to be a monumental force in the face of all our fears, especially our fears of "the other."

I've had an incredible evening and my heart is full of hope even in one of the most hopeless places on earth.

January 15, 2014

For the last few months I've been working on my own spiritual disciplines. Fasting, Giving, Worship, Solitude, and mainly PRAYER.

If I was honest, my prayer life to date was pretty much like this....

"God bless this food..."

"God help so and so with their problem..."

"God bless me and my family...."

"God protect me..."

And something just didn't feel right.

Every time I approached the throne room of God I felt like I was rubbing a lamp waiting on a Genie to come out. It seemed like three wishes were more important then my own understanding of how God is working on the planet.

I wasn't interested in being with God. I was interested in calling on God to do something for me.

Why do we always fall into this trap?

Jesus certainly didn't spend time asking God to give Him. It seems like most of the time Jesus praid it was centered on being with God, not asking of Him.

So of late, I've been working on contemplative prayer.

It really starts with just sitting in a quiet place without an agenda. I usually find a new lesson from Jesus, mostly I focus on Matthew 5.6.or 7.I close my eyes...And I wait.

My mind starts spinning with all the stuff I have to do. I think about who I need to call.I think about the list I need to complete.Usually I find my mind wants to lead me to fear, anger, hurt, betrayal, anything to get me out of the moment. And then something happens.

I keep thinking about what Jesus tries to communicate when He revealed the Kingdom of God on the planet, and I start thinking how I can be more like Him.Sometimes I sense a mission of clarity.Sometimes I just sit and think about all the way people might have interpreted Him.I don't have an agenda.I don't try and force something.I don't bring my list to God.I just wait for Him.

If I'm being honest, I can tell you it doesn't happen every time.I don't have any SUPER REVELATIONS every time I get quiet.But one thing is sure...

The time I spend with God sets my mind on something bigger than my daily struggle. I've found my day to be so much more calm.My responses to others full of joy.And my perspective has totally changed.

I guess I'm writing this because it took me 30 years to figure out I was focused on the wrong parts of prayer, and I believe I'm just starting to figure out what I'm doing. Hopefully, you can learn from my mistakes, and start spending contemplative time with God.

One of my friends told me last week, "Of all the great preachers in history, at the end of their lives, none of them bragged on building more buildings, or seeing more people. When asked what they would have done different, without exception they all say 'I wished I spent more time with God.'"

I want to do that.

I want to spend more time with God.

So I let the contemplative life continue, and I'll give you updates when I have more epiphonal moments.

January 14, 2014

Last week I was in the middle of writing this post, when I got a text message to go read www.branerpartyof7.blogspot.com. Sure enough, she beat me to the punch. She wrote an awesome heart felt story of how her love for me was the light of her world. She explained how marriage is hard sometimes, and you have to work, but that she was having a great season.

As many of you husbands know, that's a GOOD DAY!! So often when someone asks, "How's your marriage going?" I answer with "Well, GREAT...I think" and then I look sheepishly over at Jamie Jo to confirm or deny my answer, and she usually says something like, "Well...we're working on it." HA!!!

Isn't that just like a man!! Just when we think we've got it all worked out, our ladies bring us back to reality and show us ways we can work on our marriage.

But when I read Jamie Jo's tribute last week, I almost started crying right there in the parking lot of Barnes and Noble. I felt so encouraged that my favorite person on the planet also thought I was her favorite person.

I was thrilled to know she likes to just hang out with me as much as I like to hang out with her.

For the last few months, we've found this really cool groove where it's just fun to be together, laugh a lot, talk, and re-kindle our friendship that marriage was founded on.

It's just tough to keep that friendship thing going in the midst of several businesses, five kids, a heavy travel season, and trying to be the maintenance guy of our house. And in the middle of all the chaos, My lady and I are doing AWESOME!!

Sure, it could change tomorrow, right? After all, that's life. Today is good, but tomorrow may bring us a storm that we'll have to renew our vigor to endure. But today, I'm thankful for you Jamie Jo. You're a great wife, an incredible mom, you get more done than anyone I know, and you still manage to sit down and write a SUPER encouraging blog post.

January 11, 2014

Most of you know I travel quite a bit to teach students all over the world. This week, I've been in West Texas at a school in Amarillo. San Jacinto Christian Academy is one of only a handful of Christian Schools in the Panhandle of Texas still left after the Recession.

It's tough economically to run a private school when you're trying to compete with a well healed town of people who also serve at the Public Schools. Amarillo is still a town of 200K people who live a quiet, small town like lifestyle, and it's evident from the moment you meet your first Amarillo Texan.

Everyone I met was smiling, grateful for the time I spent with them. And I too, felt like being grateful they would have me teach their teenagers. If you've read any of my articles in the last month, you'll know I'm on a new trek for finding gratefulness in my life and the lives of others. Amarillo was a GREAT place to be grateful.

First, I'm grateful for the Fairley family. Chase, Christian, and Caroline were gracious hosts. Mr. and Mrs. Fairley are always ready to serve at anything I needed, and were the epitome of Texas hospitality.

Secondly, I'm grateful for San Jacinto Christian Academy. Their heart to help students navigate academics while teaching a solid spiritual development is a breath of refreshing air. I grew up in a small Christian School in Arkansas, and I know how hard it is to rally administrators, teachers, and students. Thanks to Mark, Nick, Hollie, and the crew at San Jac who are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of kids.

And last, but certainly not least, I'm grateful for the student body at San Jacinto. They were incredible listeners, asked interesting questions, and were ready to wrestle different ideas they needed to wrestle with. I'm thankful for the group of students who are willing to examine their spiritual formation in all honesty, not hiding behind a Christian Sub Culture to mask the humanity we all are dealing with. Thank you all for a wonderful week.

OH...and a BIG THANKS to my friends in Panhandle Texas. Angela, Matt, and Mike you guys are an inspiration as you lead the RIVER church there. Thanks for having me up to hang with your students. It was a joy!! Can't wait to do it again.

For today, I'm heading back to the Braner Party of 7 for a couple of days of relaxing, and then on the road again next week for another inspiring adventure.

December 31, 2013

The New Year is a remarkable time of renewal in our culture. We celebrate the opportunity to forget what is behind and move on to what is in front of us. New Year's Resolutions ring in the new year, as we all desire a fresh start, a new beginning, a forgiving of sorts that let us get closer to the people we really want to be.

It's almost like we have a new starting line in life's long marathon. We can point to a definitive period of time and say, "That's the Beginning."

That's when I decided to....

Loose a little weight
Begin to work on my negative attitude
Transform my work habits
Take control of my financial situation
Set a goal to achieve something special
Create an environment of friendship around me
Serve someone else
Be productive when it comes to family
Forgive someone
Forgive myself
Be attentive to spiritual things

Or whatever you think brings you closer to the person you want to be.

I can remember this New Year's tradition when I was growing up in my family, and I have to be honest, I didn't take it very serious. I knew in a few short days or weeks I'd forget my resolution, get tired of working so hard for the goal I set on January first, or just think it unrelatable.

But now, I take this tradition very serious. I set goals, write them out, and work diligently to take every year as a new start.

This year I plan on continuing...
My prayer discipline I've devoted to in 2013, working to increase the amount of time I spend in deep contemplative prayer

My physical challenge. I've lost nearly 15 pounds and I'm on the way to being in the best shape of my life.

My family time, deepening my relationship with my wife and kids.

My work development. Making KIVU a destination for teenagers around the globe, writing compelling works of literature, and working with my friends around the world to develop conversations that help shape the way the world leaders think about faith.

So as we approach this new day tradition, who do you want to be?

I'm not advocating you can simply wash the whole slate clean and re-start, but maybe there are a few things in your life you'd like to work on this year. The New Year gives you the opportunity to have a starting line right there for all to see.

Who do you want to be in 2014? Let's take each other serious and challenge our community to sharpen one another as the year rolls along.

December 29, 2013

Much has been written on the philosophy of happiness. Let's be honest, if we had the chance to be happy versus not, we'll all choose the former instead of the later. So what is it? What's the ticket? How in the world can we rally around happiness instead of the air of fear which is the plague of our world right now?

I'm quick to point out, I don't know much, but my life is in constant transition to becoming. I want to be someone more happy.I want to be known for joy, instead of what I stand up against.I want people to know me for what I'm for, instead of all the things I disagree with.So, how do I get there?

For the last few months, I've been intentionally working on being grateful. It all started in a ramp up to Thanksgiving Holiday 2013. I felt like I needed an attitude adjustment. So much of the world is focused on the negative, but how many of us are willing to step out on a limb in honesty and say, "I'm grateful for _________"

My religious tradition asks me to "... demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

For some, that means to battle all the time against.But I'm reading this a different way today.

Every morning I wake up and spend time thinking "I'm grateful for....

The air I breathe.The fact I'm living on planet earth. (just think about trying to live on a different planet in the unforgiving universe.)The family who loves me unconditionally.The fact I have a job.The notion I can think and reason on my own

I'm grateful for great friendsFor unbelievable experiencesFor lifeFor the health I haveFor the people who call me friendsFor the beauty of living in this point in history

And you know what?

This discipline has proved to set my thoughts on things that are important instead of giving any credence to negativity.

It may sound a little strange, but I've got to tell you, living in the world of gratefulness has given me so many more positive days than negative ones.

I wonder if 2014 would be marked by people who vigilantly pursued gratefulness instead of entitlement.

Try it.You'll be surprised how it changes your mindset from looking for all the wrong things about the world, and imposes a new normal in your world. Just try it for a week and see what happens. Take captive every thought that comes in your mind and fight that one. Own it. Challenge it. Make it your slave, instead of the opposite.

December 28, 2013

Working with Teenagers and College students sharpens my spiritual development. They have the ability to smell a fake in less than 2.5 seconds, and let me assure you, there's not a lot of forgiveness. Once they taste a morsel of disingenuous relationship, they're ready to move on to something/someone else who can relay a life of truth. Honesty in it's purest form, you have to live what you say, or you don't stand a chance talking to this generation.

Really, this is the reason why I love working with young people. For all the insecurities, all the misunderstanding, and all the silly youth group stuff, the brutal way they challenge me to live a life full of the gospel is inspiring. It moves me to be on my game, work diligently to find ways they can understand spiritual development, and humbly admit those times when my own spiritual life fails me.

If I've learned anything over the last 15 years working with young adults it's this: They don't care how much you know, how many degrees you have, or even how much you can teach them.

What they really care about is how much you care for them. They're longing for someone to just say, "you're gonna be alright" and then (and only then) do I recognize the opportunity to help coach and train spiritual development.

If you don't care for them, you never have an opportunity to share more compelling spiritual concepts.

Strange thing is, adults aren't any different.

No matter what phase of life we're in, we all want to look out into the wide wide world and see someone who is willing to say 'I care about you' without any notion a patronization. I'm talking about REALLY caring for people.

Don't tell me it's going to be ok if it's not.Don't tell me God cares for me if I don't realize it in my own life.Don't give me your charity, I'm a person not a spiritual project.

I've found, If you want to preach from the pulpit without any concern for them as human, you might as well be preaching to the tree out in the front yard. Nobody wants to hear someone piously tell them how RIGHT they are and how WRONG someone else is. All be it true there are certainly right and wrong principles, in the case of showing people God's truth, there's no paradigm to embrace a lustful need to be right.

You have to work with people where they are, not where they need to be. You can't enter a friendship with someone as you stand on the throne of pride.Some us us need to back up and re-examined the way we live our own lives in the public sphere. Maybe we need not "STAND UP" for what is right, as much as we take a long look at someone's life that needs to understand God's love.

Sure it feels good to win a fight.It makes us all think we're on the right train when the world spins our way.But remember, the world isn't supposed to spin our way. The revolution of redemption isn't about walking a road where people like you, accept you, or give you the rights you feel like you deserve. There's just no place for that in God's Kingdom.

In God's Kingdom we have to be very careful to know, "For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world." (1 John 2:16)

Even when you're fighting for something that's seemingly 'right,' sometimes it's not the destination that is important but the journey it takes to get you there.

Be careful to think about those around you and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

December 12, 2013

Affluenza is now an official condition that could get you off a crime. It's not a cold. It's not the flu. It's not body aches or even head aches. Affluenza is actually the condition where your parents give you too much stuff, so you can't be held responsible for your actions. Affluenza, the new way rich people skirt the system.

Yesterday in Ft. Worth Texas, Ethan Couch was given a 10 year probation sentence for the killing of 4 innocent people on the side of the road. 25 weeks ago, Ethan (16) hopped in his truck with a blood alcohol level of 2.14, which is three times the legal limit of alcohol allowed in Texas. He plowed through a 40 MPH zone going 70 MPH, and slammed his truck into a group of people on the side of the road. Brian Jennings, 43-year-old Burleson youth minister; Breanna Mitchell of Lillian, 24; Shelby Boyles, 21, and her 52-year-old mother, Hollie Boyles were taken instantly from the earth because a 16 year old kid was having fun with some friends.

(By The Way, the friend riding in the truck is now paralyzed and has filed a Civil Suit against Ethan, so his 'friends' seem to be leaving in droves)

So Ethan broke the law by drinking under age.He was driving recklessHe was the guilty party at the scene of the accidentAnd he happened to be accused of manslaughter as he took away the life of four other people.

You'd think this was a slam dunk case, but BOOM, in comes Mom and Dad. Did I mention they were wealthy? Oh yea, nothing like a wealthy set of parents who don't have any boundaries for their son to swoop in to the rescue today. As part of the sentence Ethan will go to a rehab facility to cost $450K a year. WHAT!! WHAT!!!

Yep, you read it right. Half a Million dollars a year will get this kid out of prison and in rehab. REALLY?

Even in the face of the American Justice System, there are plays behind the scenes that surely the most corrupt governments in the world would call foul. I'm amazed!! I can't Believe it!! How in the world could this happen? This kid needs to face the justice system and go away for life. You can't even get justice for killing these days? We need JUSTICE for those people. And Ethan just gets to walk away?? Affluenza?? Really? What about the Poorfluenza folks who suffer from generational poverty? Will they be able to get away with crime now because they didn't have enough money?

WHAT A JOKE!!

I was fuming when I heard this, and then I stopped.......

I'm not the judge.I'm not the families effected.I'm not in the middle of this.I don't know Ethan.I don't know the situation other than what the news reported.I don't know ANYTHING.

All I know is my sense of justice reared its ugly head this morning, and I don't have any clue about this situation. I allowed my day to start this morning with high blood pressure, a sense of injustice, and anger towards this young man who I've never met.

And then I started to pray...

"God, please don't let my heart be calloused by my own sense of right and wrong. Help me to live in a world to see what the big picture plan might be. Help me not to judge lest I be judged, and I'm thankful you didn't make me the judge. Be with Ethan today as he faces a new world. Be with Ethan's family and help them see how to best help their son. Be with those who lost loved ones. There's no way we can bring them back, and the healing process must be incredible. God, please help them with your compassion and your grace. This world is not right. These situations aren't right. Thank you for being a God who sees this, is interested in it, and wants to show the world how you have come to reconcile all things to yourself. Take my bitter heart, and make it new."

I won't let this story own me. I choose today to live in the spirit God gave me to live in peace with all men.

November 25, 2013

Box offices around the country were on fire the new Hunger Games installment. It seems like the whole nation was on the edge of their seats waiting to see what might happen to Katniss and Peeta after their sacrificial win to save one another in the first movie.

My teenage kids were so excited to see it, we actually ordered tickets the day before, got to the theater 30 minutes early, and the place was jam packed.

I watched news reports around the country and saw it likened to the Beetles invading America, as one reporter illustrated.

In any event, most of us know just because there is a large swell of people ready to attend an event doesn't necessarily guarantee the quality of the event. I've stood in lines for movies before, only to walk out disappointed that the marketing was better than the content of the film.

But this one was different...

Now, barring my first critique of the whole idea of the Hunger Games; mainly that whoever can sit around and think of a story where kids have to kill kids to keep th government in power is pretty sick, the movie is actually filled with some incredible story lines. For me, just as soon as I thought I had it figured out, the story line took a different direction. (FYI: I didn't read the book first.)

The acting was fare.The landscape of the film was attractive.The special effects met expectations. But it was the movement in the film leading to the next that gave rise to some interesting conversations.

Themes of sacrifice, power, injustice, and the opportunity for those in power to reach out and serve were CLEAR. I suppose the vehicle of war as a story can move us to a place where those topics relate to our lives even in today's culture.

I was most taken back when the group of Victors, those who've actually won the games in the past, began to collaborate for a larger goal. I know we've seen movements throughout history where the underdog takes on a mission higher than what they knew their calling to be. But somehow, this Hunger Games got me thinking about the rise of servant hood in our culture.

We often refer to these movements as Grass Roots, and I'm interested in those movements that tend to give rise for the greater good.

So often we focus on the need of the individual in our culture. We tend to revert to a "What's in this for me" attitude predominately. However; the conversation of the "we" seems more interesting than the conversation of the "me."

When I search the scriptures for an adequate framework of this conversation, it seems to jump off the page when the "we" is in conflict with the "me."

The faith tradition I come from often tries to point out the meaning of the "me" using phrases like 'personal savior,' 'my relationship with God,' or even helps us justify 'my own experience.' Those phrases aren't very adequate when it comes to describing a world where God gave rise to the creation of all of us.

It seems like we would do better to talk in a nomenclature of how God works through the 'we' rather than focusing so intently on the 'me-centric' life we're taught. After all, Loving your Neighbor is about 'the we.' Love your enemy is about 'the we.' Even when you dissect the Ten Commandments and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the guidelines have more to do with how 'we' interact with the greater world at large than it does about my own personal actions in the world.

So when the Hunger Games pushed the button of sacrifice and servant hood, I couldn't help but think about how sometimes even in the faith community, we tend to get short sighted and put our individual interests above those of the greater good.

Paul even wrote in Romans 12, "Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought." And it's important to catch the responsibilities we've been given individually, and see them through a paradigm where God has orchestrated those individual things not for the sake of 'me' but rather to put on display how incredibly beautiful the WHOLE world is when He directs us to interact together.

Just some thoughts, and I admit they may be a bit grey, but I'm still formulating how I can think about this ever present conflict of 'me' vs. 'we.'

November 22, 2013

The other day I met a guy who was starting a new business. He and I have been friends for a while, and when I was just sitting and listening, he started telling me about all the new dreams he had to build his idea.

I listened....
And listened...
I listened some more...
Have you ever sat with someone who just goes on and on and on?

He asked me how we were doing, and I just gave him the short executive summery. He didn't need to know all the details, but I wanted to share life, so I told him what we were into, and where we were going here in Colorado.

And then he dropped a huge life bomb
He and his wife of 17 years were going through an awful divorce. It's one of those divorces where hatred just oozes through every interaction. They way they deal with one another is nasty.

Most of the time I get wrangled into these talks, the side who divulged their side of the story is usually searching for a pat on the back, a confidant, or they're all together trying to build a team.

I sat and listened to my friend's side of the story, wondering all the while what the other side might be. And then I just seemed to have this sense about me telling me to serve, to love, to be with, to try and understand, and to give counsel where he asks.

I don't know how many times you get in conversations like that, but I would imagine very few.

Very few people I talk to have the capacity to sit and just listen to someone else's pain without trying to "fix." So our conversations in the Christian world dive to the lowest common denominator.

Recently, I saw on Facebook there was a conversation about whether Christians should drink Alcohol on Thanksgiving? I sat back in my chair SHOCKED. "Is this still a real conversation?" I thought. "Do people really spend time in this space?" I asked another friend of mine.

And sure enough, the podcast was rated one of the top shows in the Religious section on iTunes, and I felt awful.

There's so much pain in the world. People are divorcing.
Kids are leaving.
Death is taking.
Disease is stalking.
Hunger is plaguing our country like never before.
Health Industry is in debacle.

And all we want to talk about is how to justify a glass of wine? Or criminalize those who do? YUCK. I'm not interested. I want to be in a conversation that really reaches out to do the things Jesus asked me to do. LOVE GOD. LOVE OTHERS. Do this to the least of these. WHO CARES about minor stuff that justifies your behavior.

Content to dwell in insignificance, while Jesus is calling us to a Joyous life. When will we see?

Today, I kind of feel like Jesus must have when he looked at the disciples for the hundredth time and said, "O ye of little faith."

The faith revolution we need has little to do with personal choice, and more to do with how we reach out to others. Let's stop being so introspective and reach out to others. That's the key to this faith journey.

November 18, 2013

This week, I had a chance to be a part of the Global Faith Forum at Northwood Church in Keller Texas. The Premise: To see if Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Atheist, Agnostics, and every other form of faith could come around the table and find some commonality.

I was invited to go participate back in February 2013, and I've been looking forward to this event ever since. I'm finding it extremely compelling to share faith with people of other faiths without any agenda. NO SALVATIONS. NO CONDEMNATION. NO JUDGEMENT. Just a few hundred people would attend interested in learning the ins and outs of the other.

Ther premise was to learn how to Love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself. So with those two important foundational rules, it was no holds barred.

We talked with the Iranian Ayatolla Dr. Ahmed Irivani. We share with Muslim Clerics in Dallas.We talked with fellow Christians from around the world. And we were honest.

What a breathe of fresh air to eliminate that desire for protection when you can just "Be" who you are without fear, guilt, shame, or agenda. I learned so much about Iran and the way the Mullahs are working today. We talked at length about Youth in the Middle East and what role faith plays.

Of Course, I talked of Jesus and my desire that all mankind would adopt Jesus' message of life and life more abundantly, the message of God's central theme of Love to all people, and the message of New Kingdom He came to develop here on earth.

I felt like I was sitting at the top of the game. The World Series, The Super Bowl, The World Championship, none of those are on my radar for actually participating in my life time. But this...This was my World Series. It was a dream I've had for a long time to meet such interesting people dealing with global faith issues, and the folks at the Global Faith Forum didn't disappoint.

Thank you all for your hospitality, your kindness, and your willingness to step out of the box, and FINALLY to get people together who care so much for their faith, the world around them, and the greatest commandment, "Love the Lord your God with All your heart, soul and mind. And the Second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."

You guys showed the world what it means to follow Jesus in REAL TIME. Thank you.

November 06, 2013

That's right, the Travel Season is up in Full Force. This weekend I'm heading to one of my favorite spots, Enid Oklahoma.

I'll be working with some friends to talk about What it means to Follow Jesus, How we can form deep meaningful relationships, and what our responsibility is to go and live a life of character and integrity. Starting Friday Night at Emmanuel Baptist Church, We'll have some FUN!!!

So if you're in the area, come on over. If you're not, I would appreciate your prayers.

November 05, 2013

Ok, so every now and then I like to take a day to just brag on my lady. It's a tough place to write from a beginning point because there is so much going on in the Braner house, it would be impossible to survive without Jamie Jo.

Obviously she's an incredible person, I've bragged on her before, but recently she's turned a whole new corner.

Lately she's taken on more responsibility at KIVU, started her own independent company, writing papers for a Masters Degree in Organizational leadership, AND she's managing my calendar, making sure the kid's calendar is in order, and reaching out to friends in the community.

I've never seen such a servant attitude in ANYONE. And to top it all off, she's amazingly happy, full of joy, and her spiritual development is quickly becoming an envy. She's connecting to God on a whole different level.

That's just a few....

I'm so thankful for Jamie and the way she cares for everyone around her. She's intentional about looking out for whatever needs rise to the surface. She offers to take kids from moms who are stressed. She's involved in orphan care ministries, has a HUGE heart for people, and is racing to perform with excellence in her personal life.

You may think, "how in the world does one woman do so much?" and I'd join you in your wonderment.

When I get home, I'm just thankful to sit, talk, and hang out with my best friend.

Thanks Jamie Jo. You never cease to amaze me. Your dedication, loyalty, trust, and friendship are just a few of my "favorite things" I admire in you.

October 29, 2013

If you grew up during my era, the images of Charlie Brown's annual Pumpkin Patch cartoon was a staple. We didn't have 700 channels to deliver content, and the networks always played Charlie Brown's episode of Halloween every October 31. When I was flipping the channels last night, I saw this episode starting to be re-played again, and the nostalgia was overwhelming. I remember as a kid the times we dressed up around Halloween and played make believe superheros, sports stars, pirates, and even a couple of cartoons, just to have fun. (and there was a load of candy each October 31.)

At the same time, my church demonized Halloween. They came up with Harvest Festivals, Carnivals, and 'like halloween events' to make sure we weren't out on the streets sacrificing small animals (or whatever they thought teenagers would try to equate this EVIL holiday with at the time.) I vividly remember our youth leaders showing us musicians worshipping Satan, DVD series of Satan worshippers who all came together at Halloween, and the message was STEAR CLEAR. It was enough to scare the living daylights out of church attending kids. And I remember thinking "I don't think Charlie Brown worships Satan. It's just make believe."

But as with most programs, the heart in creating Halloween alternatives was good. The execution was poorly thought out. All we were doing at my church growing up was mirroring what Halloween was and calling it something different. To this parishioner, it was awfully confusing.

Which brings me to Duck Dynasty.

Last week's Halloween Episode showed Willie and the boys converting the warehouse into a haunted house. Kids came by while the characters of the show dressed up and had a great time giving candy away, dressing up in their favorite costumes, but all in good fun.

At the end of the show, Phil (the dad), prayed, "Thank you Lord for showing us the difference between make believe and reality...In Jesus name"

I couldn't believe it.

Here, from one of the most popular shows on television today, was a group of faith believing people who actually participated in Halloween without all the demons, devils, and witches. They actually found a way to rise above the frey and have fun on a day where it might be interpreted a different way. And in the end, they just called it like it is, it's just make believe.

We have a church here in Durango Colorado on the main street downtown who take a similar approach every year. All the kids in town come to third street to trick or treat on Halloween. Instead of leaving the light off and ignoring the thousands of people who walk by the building, the church actually facilitates a fun carnival like event ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT. Can you believe that?

The mission isn't to worship the devil.They don't compromise their beliefs. They're not trying to encourage any sort of ill will.They're just looking for a place where people are already moving, and they give them a safe, fun, night to remember. All in the name of make believe.

Sometimes I think we take life a little TOO serious. The other night I heard of a neighbor who was going to shut the lights off in her house as a protest to the EVIL HALLOWS EVE. And I thought to myself, "Self...is that really what Jesus would do?" She claimed to be a follower of Jesus, standing up for what's right and true, but she was ignoring the very people in her neighborhood she may never have another opportunity to get to know.

What if, instead of a silent protest, there was a way to reach out and have fun with the kids in the neighborhood. It wouldn't take much. A bowl of candy, and a coffee station for parents, and who knows? You might even meet someone living right next door you've never had the chance to meet.

Sure, she'll make a statement of how she despises the art of evil, but she'll forever be known as the scrooge lady who wouldn't even give any candy away.

I'm not advocating the roots of Halloween some sort of pure history. But really? Are we really going to become the strange people known more for what we're against, instead of re-thinking a creative way to extend a hand of hospitality to our neighbors.

I'm pretty sure most of the neighborhood understand Halloween as a Make Believe night. I for one have never seen my neighbors working diligently to worship Satan. Most just want to dress up like Iron Man for a night and count the piles of candy handed out in the neighborhood.

So take a step back and ask yourself How can you display your own spiritual journey on a controversial evening? You never know...It might be a great chance to show your neighbors how much you care about them over how much you need to be right in your own theology of nights. And after all....it's just a day.

October 28, 2013

I know it's early, but I thought I'd get a jump start on a month of Thankfulness.

I've been going through a study with a group of guys on what it means to live more like Jesus. We're reading through a book called the Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith. It's really interesting as we seek to take an intentional purposeful look at what it means to see God in a different way. It's not a self help type of work as much as it's a call to "do" spiritual journeyman things.

The first couple of chapters talked about physical health, sleep, and meditation. Last night I read a chapter on Thankfulness, thus the article this morning has been peculating in my head for a few hours.

Smith makes a point to position our own spiritual life in a place where we can be most understanding of how to respond to God's voice in our life. Giving practical tools, it's been amazing in my own spiritual life to practice some of the things Smith recommends. Today, it's being thankful.

Smith goes to great lengths to point out, we can't simply think about being thankful, but rather; we need to be pro-active and intentional in our thankfulness. He even goes so far to write, "you need to journal the things you're thankful for."

So today, I'm thankful:

I'm thankful for my beautiful wife.I'm thankful for my children.I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with each one learning how to encourage their gifts.I'm thankful for Colorado.I'm thankful for the air I breathe today.I'm thankful for life.I'm thankful for long bike rides in the mountains.I'm thankful for friends.I'm thankful for hope, faith, and a place to make a difference in the world.I'm thankful for KIVU.I'm thankful for a board of directors who believes in what we're trying to do with global teenagers.I'm thankful for the sun out today.I'm thankful for people who take the time to listen well.I'm thankful for.....

I could go on and on, but the point is, when I write this stuff down, I hope you might too. What are you thankful for today? Take 10 minutes out of your busy schedule and sit down, write it out (I know men don't like to do this very much) and make sure it's not digital. Take some good old fashioned paper and pen/pencil and contemplate on what you're thankful for today. You'll be AMAZED at what you can come up with. I'm already a legal page in, and I've got lots more to go.

October 17, 2013

I'm in the middle of reading a book by James Bryan Smith called The Good and Beautiful God: Falling In Love With The God Jesus Knows, and it's fascinating. Much of Mr. Smith's work comes from long years of mentor-ship with Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, the gurus of Spiritual Disciplines.

If we're going to wrangle our spirit in a way that mirrors the amount of attention we give our physical bodies at the gym, we may need a little help from the professionals. After all, you wouldn't walk in the local gym and start lifting weights without consulting a doctor or a trainer, would you? (don't answer that!)

At the beginning of the book Mr. Smith talks about the importance of getting your body re-set by paying attention to sleep. America is on the cheap when it comes to getting the right amount of sleep. In the book Mr. Smith quotes Dr. Siang-Yang Tan's book Rest. He shows how in the 1850's the average American slept 9.5 hours a night. By 1950 that number dropped to eight hours, and today the average American sleeps under seven hours a night.

If I were honest, to date I've looked at sleep as a waste of time. "I'll sleep when I die" I used to say "I've got too much to do." But in reality by ignoring the importance of re-setting our bodies is actually doing more harm than good. He goes on to say, "A poll done by the National Sleep Foundation showed that 49 percent of American adults have sleep related problems, and one in six suffers from chronic insomnia."

It's no wonder, even in the old days the writers of the Bible had to encourage humanity to "Be Still and Know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) It's in our created make up to make sure we get the sleep our bodies need to function at their highest performance.

I'm not sure I can find a study that shows a cross the board optimal number of sleep hours, as many are in conflict with one another. But I can confess in my own personal spiritual development, when I sleep, the day goes well. When I don't sleep, I'm cranky, easily agitated, and seem to drag on and on and on. And I know from my doctor friends, the sleep business is good business. Our reliance on drugs like Ambian, Lunesta, and Rozerem are at an all time high premium, driving us to do more and more as we rely on these sleep aids to get us enough sleep to just keep going.

Sleep is an interesting concept. We don't really produce anything while we sleep.We don't really have any agenda.We're totally at the mercy of whatever happens in our dreams.It's almost as if we have a submission problem to get enough sleep.

I know, I know, many who suffer from insomnia and anxiety have a different role to play in this argument, but those of us who are just type A get it done people, maybe the first step in our spiritual formation should be to lay down the pride we have that "The World Needs Me To Keep Going" and take a lesson from Mr. Smith to begin by learning how to get adequate sleep.

October 14, 2013

Most of you know I live in the greatest bike community in America. Durango Colorado boasts of some of the most pristine mountain bike trails the country has to offer. Our community is largely made up of athletes you hear about on major tour circuits, and even has several Olympic medal winners.

We would never think to be one of the "best" in a long endurance style activity, we could just wake up one day and be the best. It takes work. It takes dedication. It takes training!

So why is it, when we look at our own spiritual development, we've been made to think it just happens?

Coming from a pretty conservative school, conservative college, seminary, and long standing core friendships in the most "buckle of the Bible Belt" friends, I missed this. For some reason, I remember people saying

If you just attend church, God will start moving in your life.

If you experience pain or suffering in your life just "Give it up and Give it to God"

Read your Bible

Obey the unwritten do's and don'ts that support our community

Make sure you never tread out there in the world out from under God's Umbrella of protection (which ironically was the way they wanted people to live)

Then all would be well.

So what happens when all that stuff doesn't work? Where are we supposed to go? Those of us who struggle to understand God's will permeating our lives are considered Hinter Landers that exist outside the mainstream of our community. Is that how we're supposed to work on our spiritual development?What happens when you do all those things for 35 years and come up short? Should we just understand God gives insights to those He wants to give insight, and the rest of us are just stuck?

I've got another idea....

What if we started taking our spiritual development to another level?What if we started looking at our spiritual bodies just like my athlete friends look at their spiritual bodies?

I'm in a group of guys right now reading through a book about spiritual formation, discipline, and training our spirit as we train like anything else in life. It's similar to Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour rule. If you want to be good at anything, it will take 10,000 hours to perfect your gift. Whether your an athlete, an academic, pastor, teacher, cop, or attorney, we can all take a hard look at our spiritual training.

If you're frustrated where you are spiritually, hang out here for a while. I'm going to start training my own spirit, if you'd like to join me, I'd be happy to share what I'm learning.

Let's train for excellance, not just for some sort of traditional view of faith.

October 10, 2013

Creating Community is often a hard road to pave. Sure you can bring people together in a group, but what about deep honest relationships that forge friendships of a lifetime. Those kinds of community relationships don't happen by chance.

I've noticed in the work we do here at KIVU, the best relationships are melded together in the fire of honesty. It's fun to be a round a lot of people at a particular event, but it's life changing to meet someone who you can listen well with. Talking about the latest football game is fun, but sharing life's struggles together is meaningful.

Lately I've been reading about the necessity of being honest in accountability groups. I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of the whole accountability movement. It seems more like a prison sentence than a place where people can go to develop friendships. If both people don't see the group as something that's helping us through the hardest times, it just turns into a confession of how we fail, and nobody needs that.

We already know we fail. We already know how far we are to the place we really want to be. And to stand up and confess our laundry list of problems, isn't what I'm talking about.

I've seen groups work effective when all are dedicated to the better of the other. That way, when something needs to be communicated, it's not a place of judgement, but a place of healing. As several members of the community listen with an ear of encouragement, rather than a heart of competition, there's real magic in that place.

I've had a great opportunity to walk with 4 guys in my life that know everything. They know everything about me. They've celebrated HUGE successes, and they've been in the trenches when I don't know which way is up. They stand willing, together, to drag me out of the black hole of life when it starts spinning, and with those life lines, I can wake up each morning and do the same.

As we talk about how to live in community, and how to develop places of honesty in our own sphere of influence, let's not forget the valuable place to be brutally honest with each other. It's risky, but if you find like minded people, it's overwhelmingly rewarding.

October 09, 2013

October 07, 2013

This last spring I started writing a book called, NO FEAR IN LOVE. I've interviewed hundreds of students, parents, and people I just interact with to understand the depth of where Fear actually has a stranglehold on us. What I found is nothing short of AMAZING!!

Fear Has Paralyzed People to Talk about Issues Near to Them

It's not like Horror film fear, it's fear of what tomorrow is going to bring. It's fear of rejection. It's fear I won't know the outcome, and I'm out of control. Fear is actually crippling our lives meant to be abundant are now reduced to cowardliness. After talking with a group of leaders in the North East, I found every one of them, no matter what background they had, were scared to death to bring up what they all agreed was the core of their character...FAITH.

"Why would you not bring it up. Isn't faith something you would say is valuable in your life?"

And while shaking their heads in agreement, I heard several of them talk about how the work environment didn't suit itself for 'evangelism.'

"Nobody's talking about sharing the four spiritual laws here." I said.

But I continued to run into the road block of segregation.

Most people of faith in American have found a way to compartmentalize their faith and their fear. They put faith in a box and unless they feel comfortable to talk with like minded people, they don't want to offend anyone.

Really?

We're scared we might offend someone by offering them the most interesting compelling conversation about current events, cultural depth, or even personal struggle?

What you can rest assured to know about the people you're rubbing shoulders with RIGHT NOW is they are all going through something, and they need someone to go through it with them. It's not weird to just go and be a human to someone else. You can share with them in pain, celebrate with them in success, and just do what friends do.

This fear thing is continuing to propel me into new conversations, because once I dig down deep and find out what my own fears are, there's a counter intuitive process that builds more confidence in my own soul. I'm working to help others find that place so they don't have to be afraid anymore.

September 30, 2013

You're just living life, doing your thing, and all of the sudden you find yourself looking over the cliff wondering how in the world you got there?

I'm feeling more and more like that these days, and I know a lot of Men who are feeling the same way. They're looking around at life and wondering what in the world is going on. Marriages are struggling, businesses are struggling, and if those two are in tact, kids are of the deep end. So many of us are asking real questions like "Is this all there is?" And SOMETHING inside us says there's more.

I was hanging out with some guys here in Durango this morning, and I was encouraged to see this picture doesn't acuratley reflect the populous as a whole. Nope, it would probably be a better picture with ALL of humanity staring down in this cavern wondering, what in the world is going on.

The strange part about the state of being is, nobody wants to admit it.

We've got this idea that the world needs to see us strong, they need to know we have it together, and they need to see us free from weakness.

But the paradox is, we're all pretty weak.

If we were honest with ourselves and our closest friends around, we'd find a togetherness that's out of this world. We're all wondering the same things.

I talked to some of the guys this morning struggling with marriage, fearful of business, wondering if life is going to turn out different, and it's sad we have to hide behind the "strong man" mantra. You know the one.

"Hey Bob how you doing?"

"Oh I'm doing great!!" (LIE)

"How's family."

"Oh we're in a great place." (LIE)

"That's awesome."

"How you doing?"

"Couldn't be better" (LIE)

Why do we do this?

Why can't we be real with each other, and just admit that we are weak people who are constantly looking for something to fill the empty void?

Everybody does it.

In my town, we fill the void with hiking, biking, fishing, and golf. We run, and hunt, and ski. We find every reason to be busy so we don't have to slow down and just admit...HELP!!! And if we did slow down long enough, we have this crazy idea we'd be taking someone else's time and bothering them.

So we reduce our struggle to survival.

"If only I can survive today, I'll be ok."

But what happens when survival comes to the end of the rope?

Who do you go to then?

Some will say, "Well that's where you just give it up and give it to God." And I'm still trying to figure out what in the world that means.

The beautiful part of this group I'm involved in is the fact I see guys ready to admit it. They're coming around to a place where we can all just be who we are, forgetting the need to impress anyone else or cover up our weakness.

I'll keep you posted, but for now, What a GREAT place to be. Together with other people in this big human race who want to hang out together and tear down the walls to be honest and real. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to just ask FOR REAL THOUGH?

September 20, 2013

A Few years ago I saw this bumper sticker that said "Coexist" with all the symbols of the world's religions. My first thought was, "How in the world does that work?" Most religions have such dynamic differences, there's no real way they can Coexist. And my second thought, "That's just a bunch of Utopian Tolerance. We can't do that! We have to guard the Truth. Stand up for the truth. Don't be afraid of the Gospel!!!" (and I could hear the battle cries from my evangelical friends howling in the background)

I know a lot of people who think the same. They believe If the Christian tribe enters a space where they have to Coexist without 'standing up for the gospel' they negotiate their worldview and cast shame on God's Truth. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I think the idea that 'God is God and I don't have to be God on the planet' has allowed me to find friendships in the most interesting places. I have friends that are devout Muslims, Atheists, Buddhists, Jews, and even Hindus. When I started looking at the world through the lens I believe God uses to see humanity, I had a drastic conversion. I stopped trying to convince and convert on my own merit, and starting to Love God and Love Others. Loving God and Loving Others doesn't mean we simply hole up in our own communities and disregard a great big world filled with people who believe differently. It means what it says. Love God. Love Others. (Matthew 22:37-40)

We don't have to live in a sub culture isolated from the world. We don't have to live in a world where our faith is compromised. We have an obligation to listen and learn learn about our friends in other parts of the world and share together, without feeling the pressure of being anything other than God has called us to be.

I've had the most compelling conversations with Muslims in Mosques in Saudi Arabia. I've talked openly about Jesus with my Buddhist friends seeking a life free from pain and suffering.I've listened well to my Hindu friend talk about the Brahman and the Reincarnation part of his faith.And of course, I've sat with some of the most well known Atheists to see why they hate people who love God so well.

And guess what? Every single time, I get a chance to share with them about Jesus. I don't try to act as a used car salesman selling the latest Jesus model car. I just live my life from a crucibal of life existence, and it's amazing how we can begin to talk together.

My experience has been revolutionary, and I wish more followers of Jesus had a chance to see how rich these relationships can be. Some will say, "That's just a bunch of people who sing Kumbaya together, and then leave the meeting with the same distorted prejudice as when they came in." And for some, it does turn out that way. But when you enter a space that's safe to discuss the similarities of faith and the drastic differences we have without feeling like you have to be silent, God shows up. We learn how to trust one another.

My dear friend Bob Roberts is a Southern Baptist Pastor with BIG vision for the new world. He is orchestrating a new conversation for a new world, and it is ESSENTIAL if you want to identify with some of the world's most difficult problems. As communication and globalization are becoming more a part of our future, this Forum will actually address some of the common places faith reaches, and it will also outline the differences and the reasons where we need more work to get along with our neighbors.

The line up of speakers are the 'Who's Who' in the world of faith and geopolitics, and they will be sharing their experience of faith as it relates to major decisions concerning business, the medical arena, diplomacy, women's rights, and peace keeping. It will be a way you can learn about Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Africa, Israel, Palestine, and the way faith is at the center of these major areas of ALL our lives.

Since I read The World Is Flat, by Thomas Friedman in the early 2000's, I've been watching the faith community continue to try and understand the action and reactions of our own country in the face of Globalization. I've also seen a generation of teenagers longing to find answers to some of the confusing parts of global faith issues.

If you are curious about how to talk with people of a different faith while holding on to the deep truths of your own, you're not going to want to miss this huge initiative to actually bring people together in an honest way to learn from one another.

So mark your calendars, November 14-16 in Keller Texas, outside Dallas. Be sure to click on the Global Faith Forum website, and register today.

I'll be there, contributing a seminar on Teenagers and how Christians can talk to Muslims in an honest authentic way.

September 10, 2013

The concept of manhood is something many of my colleagues are trying to set a course to understand. In a world where all things are equal, we long for a place where men can come together and learn from one another.

In a place long ago, a man's role in society was to produce and provide. His work dictated his identity. His family was at the center of his responsibilities. Today, we're watching a dramatic shift take place in the heart of American culture.

Men are walking through life wondering if they are fulfilling their purpose, and it's not really their fault. Being a man in today's world can sometimes be confusing. Are we supposed to be the star athletes of our community? Are we supposed to be the creators of art and music? Is it our place to lead? Or is it our place to follow?

Certainly, as I travel the country there are different regions that define manhood in different ways, and to a large extent I think it's good. Some places in America allow men to fulfill their gifts in a sphere of influence they were made to fulfill. But other places put a tremendous amount of pressure on a man to become something, a stereotype of sorts.

So we decided to take a chance and see what might happen if we began to mentor young men in a few key areas of development. Physically, we want men to experience an adventurous life we believe brings life. Spiritually, we want men to explore what it means to be a man in light of their relationship with God. Emotionally, we challenge men to express the pain, hurt, and suffering they feel in whatever capacity they feel. Relationally, we want men to have an outlet to connect with each other in the way guys connect.

We don't want to create an archaic way of caveman thinking, but we can't sit by idly and watch more and more men flounder to discover what their purpose in life may be until their mid 20's to 30's.

Personally I've been doing my own homework to figure out the proper mix of program and organic growth that may help boys grow into the men they were created to be. And in doing so, we launched an interesting week here at KIVU last summer. We call it MAN CAMP!

That's right. I know it's not original. It doesn't seem too creative. But it served a really interesting purpose. We invited a group of about 30 boys to come and be mentored by our World Class University Staff. They had a chance to share what it's like to be a man when it comes to relationships with women, what it means to take responsibilities for actions even when they're not fun, and they showed the guys in attendance how to be a man in today's world. We focused our efforts on principles found in scripture, coupled with the reality of living in a world where being a man is difficult.

I invite you to take a short look at the week. If you're not used to seeing men be men, the first minute and a half or so will probably shock you, but if you hang on, you're going to watch boys being mentored by men as they grow and become men themselves.

Check this out.

If you are interested in being a part of our MAN CAMP for 2014, don't hesitate. Spots are filling up for next summer already and the only way you can get in is to click on The KIVU Registration site, and secure your spot. Until the end of September we're offering a back to school special where you can get 10% off the normal price of tuition.

Come join the revolution at KIVU where we're trying to help solve a deep cultural problem of boys becoming men.